Suspended by the Tide, Keiwone Malone reportedly moving to Memphis

Posted by John Taylor on July 30, 2011, 7:52 AM EDT

In late June, it was announced that Keiwone Malone (pictured, left) was one of two members of the Alabama football program who had been indefinitely suspended for “a violation of team rules and policy.”

Almost exactly a month later, it appears the wide receiver has decided to permanently suspend himself from the program.

According to a series of tweets from Geoff Calkins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, Malone has decided to leave Tuscaloosa and continue his collegiate football career at Memphis. Geographically the move makes sense for Malone as he attended high school in the city of Memphis.

TideSports.com subsequently confirmed the initial report through the receiver’s high school coach.

“I think it’s a good situation for him, getting back home,” Memphis Mitchell High School coach Nathan Cole told the News. “Back where his mom can stay in closer touch with him.”

UA has yet to confirm Malone has actually left the program.

Malone was a redshirt as a true freshman last year, but some thought, before his “issues” he could contribute to some degree in his second year at the school.

As a four-star member of the Tide’s 2010 recruiting class, Malone was rated as the No. 32 wide receiver in the country as well as the No. 3 player at any position in the state of Tennessee.